"She was elusive. She was today. She was tomorrow. She was the faintest scent of a cactus flower, the flitting shadow of an elf owl. We did not know what to make of her. In our minds we tried to pin her to a corkboard like a butterfly, but the pin merely went through and away she flew."
Jerry Spinelli, Stargirl, Pg 15.
Today I have selected Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli, a book very close to my heart.
Stargirl Caraway is a new student at Mica Area High School, and nobody knows quite what to make of her. She wears weird clothes, but no make up, and she uses her ukulele to sing happy birthday to strangers at lunch. She is the only cheerleader to root for both teams. She joins the track team and literally turns left when everyone else turns right.
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| My copy has been well loved. |
What struck me about this book growing up was Stargirl's individuality. How confident she was in herself, and how kind she was. It is something that I've always looked up to.
An important theme in this book is the notion of selves. Stargirl's individuality directly opposes the collective of the high school. Leo is caught in the middle. When the students begin to shun them he admits, "I never realized how much I needed the attention of others to confirm my own presence (126)".
Is Stargirl really as aloof as she seems? The shunning doesn't seem to bother her. Instead she puts her time into kindness and caring regardless of the attitude of those around her. But can this make up for the disconnect from her peers? Let me know what you think in the comments!
This book is definitely on the younger end of the young adult spectrum, but that doesn't mean older readers are unable to read and enjoy it as well. I have the paperback edition, which is 186 pages (which is pretty short. I sat down tonight with the intention of refreshing my memory and read the whole thing) and features "Literature Circle Questions" at the end, as well as "Activities and Projects".
You can view the reader's guide here, and check out how to become a Stargirl here.
I loved Stargirl growing up as well. The book is very funny and light-hearted, but it also has its deeper themes that really cause one to pause and think about whether they're a "Leo" or a "Stargirl" and whether they follow the crowd or not.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait for your next review! :)
In the book what does it mean when they say "she was today. She was tomorrow"
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